Texas Tech University Athletics
Texas Tech Soccer Inks Outstanding Recruiting Class
February 04, 2006 | Women's Soccer
Feb. 4, 2006
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LUBBOCK, Texas - After just one season on the job, Texas Tech soccer head coach Neil McGuire is already well on his way to improving the future of Red Raider soccer and that trend continued on Friday as McGuire and his staff announced the signing of the most dynamic and talented recruiting classes in the history of the Texas Tech soccer program. The group consists of 13 outstanding student-athletes who have submitted letters of intent to join the Red Raiders during the upcoming fall.
"I am extremely pleased with the way this recruiting class has come together," said McGuire. "We feel like we have signed a group of young women who possess the necessary skills to bring our program within striking distance of the top teams in the conference. We needed to improve in several key areas and I think we have done just that."
The recruiting class will immediately provide a boost to the talent level of the Red Raiders as the class features many outstanding athletes.
"These players, along with our current players, will complete the most talented group we have yet seen at Texas Tech," McGuire said.
Among the many standout players included in the class is midfielder Zhaleh Rezaie (Plano, Texas), who heads to Lubbock after a four-year standout career at Plano West High School. Rezaie has been selected as a High School All-American by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) each of the last two seasons and was recently named as the Texas 5A State Player of the Year following the 2005 season.
In addition to Rezaie, Megan Hoffert (Albuquerque, N.M.), Colleen Pitts (Dallas, Texas) and Meagan Wilber (Albuquerque, N.M.) were honored as all-state performers during their high school careers.
After an outstanding prep career in which she earned numerous accolades in both soccer and track and field, Brittany Harrison (Dallas, Texas) is set to join the Red Raiders and provide an immediate impact at the forward position.
This group is comprised of players from the most elite club teams in Texas and New Mexico. Emmie Bennett (Dallas, Texas), Brittani Hamilton (Garland, Texas), Janaye Piper (Odessa, Texas), Collen Pitts (Dallas, Texas), Peyton Pulaski (Plano, Texas), Harrison and Rezaie, hail from the nationally recognized Dallas Texans, a club who regularly produces some of the finest talent in the nation. Sarabeth Clopton (Garland) and Jennifer Kammerer (Plano, Texas) come to Tech from the Dallas Sting, another highly regarded Dallas area team which has enjoyed national acclaim. Sarah Greer (Georgetown, Texas) and Amy Lovell (Georgetown, Texas) each join the Red Raiders from Austin's finest club, the Austin Lonestars, while Wilbur and Hoffert come to Lubbock from perennial New Mexico powerhouse Rio Vista F.C, a four-time state champion.
"As a whole this group has played at a very competitive level with club, high school and Olympic Development program soccer," said McGuire. "We have added much needed speed, size and skill, but more importantly we have signed players who have a passion and taste for winning. We have needed an infusion of energy and I think these players will bring that to our team, which in turn will motivate our returning players."
Texas Tech Soccer2006 Signing Class
Name Ht. Pos. Hometown High School Club TeamEmmie Bennett 5-7 MF Dallas, Texas Creekview HS Dallas TexansSarabeth Clopton 6-0 D Garland, Texas Garland HS Sting RoyalSarah Greer 5-6 D Georgetown, Texas Georgetown HS LongstarsBrittani Hamilton 5-4 D Garland, Texas Naaman Forest HS Dallas TexansBrittney Harrison 5-7 F Dallas, Texas Plano HS Dallas TexansMegan Hoffert 5-4 MF/D Albuquerque, N.M. La Cueva HS Rio VistaJennifer Kammerer 5-10 D Plano, Texas Plano HS Sting RoyalAmy Lovell 5-8 GK Helotes, Texas O'Connor HS LonestarsJanaye Piper 5-8 MF Odessa, Texas Permian HS Dallas TexansColleen Pitts 5-9 GK Dallas, Texas Ursuline Academy Dallas TexansPeyton Pulaski 5-7 MF Plano, Texas Plano West HS Dallas Texans
Meagan Wilber 5-11 MF Albuquerque, N.M. Albuquerque Academy Rio VistaZhaleh Rezaie 5-8 MF Dallas, Texas Plano West HS Dallas Texans
Emmie Bennett - MF - Dallas, Texas - Creekview High
Helped lead Creekview High to the 2004 Texas 5A State Championship ... Outstanding athlete who participated on the track and field team as well as soccer ... Voted Most Athletic following her freshman, sophomore and junior seasons ... Earned All-District second team honors following her sophomore and junior campaigns and was named to the All-District first team as a junior ... Played for the Sting Soccer Club from 1999-2005 ... Helped the team capture the 2003 North Texas State Championship as well as an appearance as a national finalist ... Currently playing with the Dallas Texans White Soccer Club ... A regional qualifier in both the 1600 meters and 1600 meter relay in 2003 ... Active in the National Honor Society, the senior executive committee in addition volunteering at St. Paul Hospital.
Sarabeth Clopton - D - Garland, Texas - Garland High
Four-year soccer winnerletter at Garland High School ... Made an impact as a freshman in 2003, leading GHS in goals and assist on her way to being named District 11-5A Newcomer of the Year ... As a junior in 2005, helped lift team to the district championship ... Honored as All-District after her junior season ... Played club soccer with Sting `88 ... Was able to contribute to club team's championships at the Surf Cup in 2002 and at the State Cup in 2003 ... In 2003, Sting was able to capture the Region Three Championship on its way to a national semi-final appearance ... During high school, was active in the National Honor Society, the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and her youth group at the First Baptist Church of Garland.
Sarah Greer - D - Georgetown, Texas - Georgetown High
Three-sport athlete (soccer, track & field and cross country) at Georetown High School ... Helped lead Georgetown to the 2003 district championship and runner-up finish in 2004 ... Selected as All-District first team following the 2003, 2004 and 2005 seasons ... Also honored as a three-time All-State performer in track & field as well as cross country ... Played club with the Lonestars `88 and helped to lead the team to state title game appearances the last three years ... Active in the Key Club during high school.
Brittani Hamilton - D - Garland, Texas - Naaman Forest High
Four-year letterwinner at Naaman Forest High School in Garland, Texas ... Helped lead NFHS to a bi-district championship in 2003 ... Earned All-District honors following the 2004 and 2005 seasons ... Selected as the 2003 District Newcomer of the Year and Team MVP in 2004 and 2005 ... Served as a team captain during the 2005 season ... Member of the Dallas Texans 88 Red club team ... Helped lift Texans to tournament titles at the Plano Labor Day tournament in both 2001 and 2003 ... Reached the semi-finals of the Southern Regionals in 2002 and 2005 as well as earning a North Texas State Cup finals berth in 2003 and 2005 ... Team captured the 2002 and 2005 LHGCL Division One Grand Championship as well as the 2003 LHGCL Division One Spring Championship in 2003 ... Active in Fellowship of Christian Athletes, student council and the prom committee.
Brittney Harrison - F - Dallas, Texas - Plano High
Participated in soccer, basketball and track & field at Plano Senior High School ... Played club with the Dallas Texans White and helped to lead them to the USYSA Regional III Championship in 2003 and the LHGCL Grand Championship in 2003 and 2004 ... Selected as the Snickers State Cup Fair Player Award in 2003 ... Two-time regional qualifier in track & field in the long jump, 100 meters and 400 meters ... Honored as Track Athlete of the Year in 2003 and 2004 ... Active in the National Honor Society and the Spanish Club.
Megan Hoffert - MF/D - Albuquerque, N.M. - La Cueva High
Four-time New Mexico club champion with the Rio Vista Club team ... Helped lead La Cueva High to the New Mexico 5A State Championship in 2003 and 2005 ... Selected as All-District first team and All-State first-team following her freshman and junior seasons ... Team finished third in state during her sophomore season and as state runner-up during her senior campaign ... Selected as a member of the New Mexico ODP state team ... Earned Player of the Game honors after La Cueva's state championship game victory in 2004 ... Served as team captain for both her club and high school teams ... Also participated in track & field and was selected as Best All-Around Athlete ... Active in student government, serving as student body vice president as a junior and senior.
Jennifer Kammerer - D - Plano, Texas - Plano High
Participated in soccer for Plano Senior High School ... Selected as All-District second team defender in 2004 and earned All-District first team honors as a defender in 2005 ... Named the 2006 Denton Invitational MVP ... Played club soccer with the Sting Royal ... Active in the Student Congress.
Amy Lovell - GK - Helotes, Texas - O'Conner High
Attended Sandra Day O'Connor High School in Helotes, Texas ... Helped team capture district and bi-district championship in 2003 and a runner-up in district and bi-district championship in 2005 ... Three-time All-District selection from 2003-2005 ... Selected to the Marble Falls All-Tournament team in 2004 ... Served as team captain in 2003 and in 2006 ... Member of the Texas State ODP state pool in 2002 and 2003 ... Selected to the ODP State Team (South Texas) in 2000 ... Played club soccer with the Lonestars and helped them finish runner-up in the State cup three straight years (2003-2005) ... Served as class treasurer and NHS webmaster ... Honored with the DAR Good Citizen Award and the AP Scholar Award ... Active in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, O'Conner Ambassadors, Big Brother Big Sisters and Hill Country Daily Bread Volunteer.
Janaye Piper - MF - Odessa, Texas - Permian High
Four-year soccer letter winner for Permian High School in Odessa, Texas ... Helped lead Permian to Bi-District and Area Championships during both her sophomore and junior seasons ... Named All-District in 2005 and to the All-Tournament team at the Denton and San Angelo Tournaments ... Recieved the Permian Coaches Award ... Team captain with her club team the Dallas Texans WTX ... Helped lead the Texans to the championship of the 2003 Alamo Cup ... Selected as an All-Star at the Texas Tech soccer camp ... Active in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Temple of Baptist Church youth group and the Permian Playhouse Theatre.
Colleen Pitts - GK - Dallas, Texas - Ursuline Academy
Attended Ursuline Academy in Dallas, Texas, where she played soccer and ran track ... High school team won the TAPPS State Championship in 2003 and was ranked second nationally ... Helped lead Ursuline Academy to back-to-back TAPPS Championships in 2004 and 2005 ... Selected as All-State TAPPS in 2004 and 2005 ... Served as team captain for two seasons ... Helped lead the Sting club team to the 2003 US YSA Region Three Championship ... Currently competing with the Dallas Texans club team and has helped the team capture the Alamo Championship in 2004, the Disney Championship in 2005 and the Premier League Championship in both 2004 and 2005.
Peyton Pulaski - MF - Plano, Texas - Plano West High
Played soccer for Plano West High school during her freshman year ... An active member of the Dallas Texans club team ... Helped lead Plano West to an area championship during 2003 ... Two-time state champion with the Dallas Texans ... Club team also attended the Southern Regionals four straight times from 2002-2005 ... Member of the North Texas State Olympic Development team since 2001 ... Active in the National Charity League, the student congress in addition to coaching a local indoor girls team.
Meagan Wilber - MF - Albuquerque, N.M. - Albuquerque Academy
Attended Albuquerque Academy in Albuquerque, N.M. ... Selected as All-District all four years of high school ... Earned All-State second team honors as a freshman and as a senior, while garnering All-State first team accolades following her sophomore and junior campaigns ... Helped led Albuquerque Academy to the New Mexico 4A State Championship in 2002 and state final appearances in 2003, 2004 and 2005 as well as three straight district championships from 2002-04 ... Also participated in track & field ... Played club soccer since age eight.
Zhaleh Rezaie - MF - Dallas, Texas - Plano West High
Highly decorated player who earned four letters in soccer for Plano West High School ... Two-time NSCAA High School All-American ... Named Texas State Player of the Year following the 2005 season ... Selected to the Dallas Morning News All-Area first team ... Led Plano West to the 2005 district championship and a state semi-finals appearance in 2003 ... Earned All-District first team honors after the 2002 and 2003 season ... Selected as the 2004 District MVP and Texas All-Region ... Earned Tournament MVP honors at the Nolan Tournament ... Played club soccer with the Dallas Texas Red `88 ... Helped led the Texans to a semi-final appearance at the USYS National Championships ... During high school active in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.
